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There was an interesting article in the Observer sports months magazine about Armstrong. Anyone else read it?
Have another look at my comparison post, I foolishly submitted it before I'd finished it.
I've added to it.
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A comparison between Hannibal (242-182BC) / The Romans, and Armstrong /The French.
H. Comes across sea to beat Romans at their own game (land battles). A. Comes across ocean to beat French at their own game (TdF)
H. Lost an eye early in his career through illness but overcomes difficulty. A. Overcomes Cancer.
H. Wins victories by bold crossing of the mountains using cutting edge technology(elephants). A. Usually establishes victories in the mountains. Uses cutting edge technology.
H. Is supported by foreign mercenaries. A. Is supported by team of professional domestiques from all cycling nations.
H. "Odi odioque sum Romanis" A. Doesn't like the french and the french don't like him
H. Defeated at Zama (202BC) aged 40.
H. Dies by his own hand to avoid extradition.(182 BC)
This idea came into my head some time ago. I was reminded of it by the article on Armstrong in last Sunday's 'Observer Sport Monthly'. This started by saying Lance was a devisive character, and then printed opinions from five 'experts', presumably with the intention of giving an appearance of balance.
However, out of the pundits only one, Pierre Ballester (L.A. Confidentiel), was a fully signed up anti - Lance commentator, and his piece looked to me as though it had been thoroughly 'redacted', just like those M.P.'s expenses claims.
Come on Observer, don't be so pathetic. Either report the story properly or forget the whole thing.The fact is that Lance is known to be quick on the draw with his libel writs and so the anglophone press will never say anything about the dodgy side of the story. In France it's different - the French courts have not supported him.
My depressing conclusion is that to be fully informed on the Armstrong question it is necessary to be able to read French.
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One last flutter this Saturday - even though the weather forecast is rain.
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My roadman discovered that although fixed wheel bikes are simple, they are not infallible - he stripped the thread on one side of his hub so that his machine freewheeled in both directions! This left him with plan B which was a 20 tooth single freewheel. He did the decent thing and very honourably pedalled down all the descents - coming down from Northchurch common to Berkhamstead his legs temporarily disappeared in a blur.
We did about 35 miles, the village of Studham near Whipsnade was our furthest point. Although this doesn't sound much, it was more effort than you might think since we were going across the 'grain' of the hills and it was all up and down.
Saturday week will be the last of these rides for the time being as I hope to be going on my club's Sunday training rides in January and since these can be hard I like to rest on Saturdays.
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I did not intended to post on this thread again, but a newspaper interview I've just read changed my mind.
Although I did not advocate, as was suggested, a training programme which just consisted of loads of miles I cannot stop myself from drawing attention to Mark Cavendish's comment in yesterday's Observer Sport Monthly magazine. Cavendish claims that he reckons to do approaching 30,000 miles a year, which can't leave him much time for anything else.
Of course I know he came away from the Olympic Velodrome empty handed, but I know which I'd prefer if I had to choose between track medals and Tour stage wins.
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I have not posted a report on my last outing, because my companions have already done a good job with their comments.
For next Saturday's ride I have already been out for a recce, and I have a promise of attendance from a former international roadman who tells me he will bring a celebrity bike. I don't think he has ridden fixed on the road for a few decades, so this could be an interesting morning.
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Just a quick reminder that I'll be at Amersham as usual this Saturday, 10 for 10.15 depart.
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We had another good ride last Saturday, doing about 40 miles with a cafe stop at Wilstone (just beyond Tring).
I'm certainly not going to promise that this sort of riding is going to win any races next season, but I remain convinced there's pleasure to be had out there, and those hills are not going to harm anyone's base fitness. However we could do with more support from forum members, and from the railways.
I hope to make the next outing on the 15th November slightly more ambitious and I will post a reminder nearer the day.
Note to Hippy - thanks for at least thinking about coming out - hope to see you next time.
This is the headline on the cover of the Tour preview of the French left leaning paper Liberation published 4th July. Its not obvious exactly how to render it in English, but 'piqure' is a jab or a shot, and 'rappel' a reminder - so maybe "A Jab of Memory".
I've just belatedly read this and even though I'm well used to French dislike of Armstrong I find myself a bit shocked by the bitterness and the level of vitriol. Libe (as it is known, and you'll have to imagine the acute accent on the final e since I can't make this keyboard show it), Libe takes it as a given that Lance is a villain and allows its anger to spread out to almost everyone concerned with the Tour. "Lance accro au Tour et vice versa." is the page 2 headline - 'accro' is 'hooked', and the allegation is that the Tour organisation has welcomed him back, in spite of his obvious (to them) guilt, because he raises the Tour's media profile. "The Tour busily polishes its tiles and washes its walls in the name of its sacrosanct cleanliness while welcoming Lance with an invitation to tea and cakes....this is something to snigger at."
Libe accuses the Amaury Sports Organisation (the Tour's owners) of sacking its own former boss, Patrice Leclerc, for being too absolutist in the battle against doping. The result: last year testing was the sole responsibility of the Agence Francais de Lutte contre le Dopage (AFLD), this year it is shared with the UCI and Libe suggests this could mean the tests could be "foutu par terre" (fucked).
This year's weapon of choice for the big stars, they say, is 'autotransfusion' (i.e. transfusions of their own blood). Presumably this is too difficult to organise for all the domestiques. Libe also mentions two new substances 'GW15-16' (a brand of engine oil) which is said to modify muscle fibres to improve endurance, and 'S107' (107 as in Peugeot, and S as in sport), an antifatigant.
Finally, would anyone like to comment on the allegation that the Tour of California, which Armstrong rode last February, was openly sponsored by Amgen, one of the main producers of EPO ?